Shatrughan Sinha dares BJP to take action against him

Rebel Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Shatrughan Sinha, who has been at unease with the party leadership, on Tuesday virtually dared the party to punish him.

Rebel Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Shatrughan Sinha, who has been at unease with the party leadership, on Tuesday virtually dared the party to punish him.

Reacting to reports that the party leadership was planning to take action against him after the Bihar assembly elections for his recent statements, seen as anti-party, the 69-year-old actor turned MP from Patna Sahib on Tuesday made a series of comments on Twitter.

"After some unofficial news channel reports-and there's nothing official about it - people are seeking my reactions on unconfirmed and unofficial report that BJP will take action after the Bihar elections.

"I will not comment on unofficial report spread by vested interests. However one shouldn't forget Newton's third law 'Every action has an equal and opposite reaction'," tweeted Sinha who is said to be miffed at being "sidelined" in the party and the government.

<1/3>After some unofficial news channel reports-and there's nothing official about it -people are seeking my reactions on unconfirmed and

Sinha had recently praised Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who has come under severe attack from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a man of development. He met Kumar on the day Modi attacked the Bihar CM at a public meeting.

Sinha on Monday suggested that Ram Vilas Paswan could be the NDA candidate for the top post.

"I believe we should have announced our CM candidate. Not putting forward a candidate is a result of some confusion in our own camp," he tweeted.

Sinha said, "In my personal capacity and in the larger interest of BJP in general and NDA in particular, I strongly suggest the able, capable, acceptable, respectable and secular Ram Vilas Paswan as the potential/consensus CM candidate of Bihar from our side."

He added, "The only desirable and advisable personality from our side who will be acceptable to all of us is Ram Vilas Paswan. The ultimate decision of course lies with the party and its parliamentary board."

<1/5>In my personal capacity and in the larger interest of BJP in general and NDA in particular, I strongly suggest the able, capable,

"Had a very pleasant and heart warming meeting with Sri. Arvind Kejriwal and family at their home," he had said. In his praises for Kumar earlier, actor-turned-politician had said, "Being a product of healthy politics with JP, Atalji, Nanaji Deshmukh, Advaniji as my mentors, I avidly support clean politics."

He said, "Welcome our friend Nitish Kumar's pledge not to field candidates with criminal background. Hope, wish and pray that others will follow."

In another tweet earlier, he had said, "Humbled and touched by Nitish ji's glowing compliments in calling me the pride of Bihar. I am fond of him as a friend and a much respected leader of the masses. Political opponents are not enemies. We can differ in political views but there can be no personal enmity."